Trail users are becoming more discerning and have high expectations about their trail experience, which means that quality infrastructure and services and marketing and promotion activities are becoming increasingly important and the user experience is central to each element of trail design and management. These guidelines have been prepared to provide a comprehensive and coordinated […]

Estimating the cost of a trail is rarely as simple as a price per mile—material types, site conditions, prevailing wage and inflation all shape what a project will cost. This Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC) Trail Talk featured a trail manager, designer and contractor who utilized two case studies to share their perspectives on cost […]

Executive Summary THE GREAT AMERICAN RAIL-TRAIL VISION Imagine pedaling across the entire country on a safe, seamless and scenic pathway—or walking a local trail that connects you to historic routes from across the country. You’re enthralled in the experience of exploring America’s heritage—its potential, its beauty and bounty, its people and places. Consider the intimacy […]

Trail-oriented development is a design and implementation approach that intentionally blurs the boundary between trails and nearby properties by creating and expanding adjacent amenities. Communities across the country are investing in local trails and reaping the benefits of active transportation. Whether residents use them for biking to work or walking for recreation, new trails add […]

Micromobility has transformed how Americans move through their communities, including on multiuse trails. Personal and shared mobility options such as electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) and e-scooters (scooters)  are now common in all types of communities. Rails to Trails Conservancy offers the perspectives in this document to assist communities, trail managers and policymakers in making decisions about […]

In 2022, SACOG adopted the Sacramento Regional Trail Network Action Plan (2022 Action Plan), which presented a long-term vision for a connected, multi-county Regional Trail Network. The Action Plan identified over 1,000miles of priority corridors that, when fully built, will form a cohesive system linking communities throughout the region. Building directly on that foundation, this […]

The team at Rails to Trails Conservancy is thrilled to partner with Special Olympics for a Celebrate Trails Day session focused on strategies for creating outdoor spaces that foster inclusive opportunities for physical activity, recreation, and everyday life. This webinar explored strategies to engage people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) in trail programming, strategies […]

Bicycles are a useful mode of transportation for short trips (one to three miles) beyond walkable distance but accessible without an automobile. Municipalities across North America are developing strategies to facilitate biking as a mode of transportation with a place-based mix of on-street facilities and bike-friendly policies. As these same communities leverage public transit assets […]

HeartLands Conservancy was hired as the project consultant to prepare this Master Plan for a county-wide bicycle and pedestrian trail system in Madison County, Illinois known as MCT Trails. This trail system is operated by the Agency for Community Transit (ACT), the private non-profit organization is responsible for operating the Madison County Transit (MCT) public […]

Many states have made significant investments in trail and active transportation planning to guide and coordinate the development of their trail networks. When actively used, these plans can guide strategic investments, unlock funding opportunities, and foster cross-agency collaboration, turning vision into reality.  In this session, our presenters shared strategies for creating comprehensive plans, building partnerships, […]